Information processing apparatus, information processing method, camera system, control method for camera system, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus comprising: an association unit configured to associate coordinates on a video captured by a first camera with coordinates on a video captured by a second camera based on specific positions specified in the video captured by the first camera and in the video captured by the second camera; an input unit configured to input position information for event detection by the first camera; and a determination unit configured to determine position information for event detection by the second camera based on the position information for the event detection by the first camera and on the association made by the association unit between the coordinates on the video captured by the first camera and the coordinates on the video captured by the second camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus forcontrolling the operations of a monitoring camera, an informationprocessing method, a camera system, a control method for a camerasystem, and a storage medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the field of monitoring systems, a technique to detect a movingobject in a video using a video analysis technique is known.Furthermore, a technique to enable constant capturing and recognition ofa detected moving object is known as a moving object tracking technique.

Using the foregoing techniques, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.2002-374522 discloses a monitored region setting method for settingregions monitored by a plurality of installed monitoring cameras whilechecking videos of the monitoring cameras.

However, in the case where an intended region is monitored using aplurality of cameras with detection functions, such as functions forpassage detection and intrusion detection, at different angles, anglesof view, or zoom factors, conventional techniques require the effort toconfigure detection settings (a line segment for passage detection, aclosed region for intrusion detection, and the like) for each individualcamera.

For example, in the case of passage detection for detecting passage of amoving object across a predetermined detection line, it is necessary toset an appropriate detection line for each camera. On the other hand, inthe case of intrusion detection for detecting intrusion of a movingobject into a predetermined region, it is necessary to set, for eachcamera, a closed region that is considered as intrusion when the movingobject enters the same.

In view of the above problem, the present invention provides a techniqueto, when monitoring a region using a plurality of cameras, reduce theeffort expended in configuring detection settings for each individualcamera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninformation processing apparatus comprising: an association unitconfigured to associate coordinates on a video captured by a firstcamera with coordinates on a video captured by a second camera based onspecific positions specified in the video captured by the first cameraand in the video captured by the second camera; an input unit configuredto input position information for event detection by the first camera;and a determination unit configured to determine position informationfor event detection by the second camera based on the positioninformation for the event detection by the first camera and on theassociation made by the association unit between the coordinates on thevideo captured by the first camera and the coordinates on the videocaptured by the second camera.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a detection setting terminal 1000(information processing apparatus) according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2C exemplarily show a plurality of monitoring cameras thatare installed in a monitored space in one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show examples of videos captured by monitoring cameras3001 to 3003 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a video captured by the monitoring camera3001 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows representation of a monitored space according to oneembodiment of the present invention in the form of a planar map.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a video captured by the monitoring camera3002 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a configuration of a monitoring systemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for configuringa detection setting for the first monitoring camera in one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for configuringa detection setting for the second and subsequent monitoring cameras inone embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show examples of screens displayed by a settingterminal when configuring a detection setting for the monitoring camera3002 in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a screen displayed when a detectionnotification is received from the monitoring camera 3001 during displayof a video of the monitoring camera 3002 in one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 shows a block configuration of a detection notification displayterminal 5000 (display apparatus) according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by thedetection notification display terminal 5000 in one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a screen of the detection notificationdisplay terminal 5000 displayed when switching a camera in oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a screen of the detection notificationdisplay terminal 5000 displaying detection performed by another camerain one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be notedthat the relative arrangement of the components, the numericalexpressions and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do notlimit the scope of the present invention unless it is specificallystated otherwise.

First Embodiment

FIG. 7 shows an example of a configuration of a monitoring systemaccording to the present embodiment. The monitoring system includes adetection setting terminal 1000, monitoring cameras 3001 to 3003, amonitoring video recording server 4000, and a detection notificationdisplay terminal 5000, which are connected via a network such as a LAN(local area network) 2000.

The detection setting terminal 1000 configures various types ofdetection settings, such as setting related to moving object detectionfunctions of monitoring cameras, setting of a type of detectionperformed by the monitoring cameras (passage detection, intrusiondetection, and the like), setting of a detection line segment fordetecting passage in the case of passage detection, and setting of aclosed region for detecting intrusion in the case of intrusiondetection. A user configures detection settings via a touchscreenoperation while viewing a capture screen displayed on the detectionsetting terminal 1000. The detection setting terminal 1000 functions asan information processing apparatus that controls a plurality ofmonitoring cameras monitoring predetermined regions.

The monitoring cameras 3001 to 3003 have a moving object detectionfunction and a passage detection function. The monitoring cameras 3001to 3003 transmit monitoring videos that have been captured to themonitoring video recording server 4000 via the LAN 2000. The monitoringcameras 3001 to 3003 are also connected to the detection settingterminal 1000 via the LAN 2000, receive detection settings from thedetection setting terminal 1000, and store therein the receiveddetection settings. Furthermore, at the time of installation of themonitoring cameras 3001 to 3003, they receive, from the detectionsetting terminal 1000, detection setting conversion informationdetermined by angles of view of the cameras, zoom settings of thecameras, and positions and angles at which the cameras are installed,and also store therein the received detection setting conversioninformation. The monitoring video recording server 4000 receivesmonitoring videos in a compressed state from the monitoring cameras 3001to 3003, and records the received monitoring videos in a hard diskdrive. The detection notification display terminal 5000 receivesdetection notifications from the monitoring cameras 3001 to 3003, anddisplays camera videos with the result of detection superimposedthereon. While it is assumed in the present embodiment that thedetection notification display terminal 5000 is separate from thedetection setting terminal 1000, they may be configured as the sameapparatus.

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of the detection setting terminal1000 in the monitoring system according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The detection setting terminal 1000 includes a detectionsetting obtainment unit 101, a detection setting management unit 102, animage obtainment unit 103, a detection setting display unit 104, a useroperation input unit 105, a detection setting unit 106, a detectionsetting conversion unit 107, and a map information storage unit 108.

The detection setting obtainment unit 101 obtains detection settings anddetection setting conversion information set in the monitoring camerasfrom the monitoring cameras. The detection setting obtainment unit 101is connected to the monitoring cameras via the LAN 2000, and can obtainthe detection settings and the detection setting conversion informationset in the monitoring cameras in accordance with a predetermined settinginformation obtainment protocol.

The detection setting management unit 102 manages the detection settingsand the detection setting conversion information obtained from themonitoring cameras, and newly updates the detection settings inaccordance with user input.

The image obtainment unit 103 obtains captured images from themonitoring cameras. More specifically, it obtains compressed video datafrom the monitoring cameras via the LAN 2000, similarly to the detectionsetting obtainment unit 101.

The detection setting display unit 104 displays, on a screen, the videosobtained from the monitoring cameras with the detection settingssuperimposed thereon. In the present embodiment, the detection settingdisplay unit 104 is a liquid crystal monitor for display.

The user operation input unit 105 accepts user input for settingdetection settings. In the present embodiment, the user operation inputunit 105 is described as, but not limited to, a touchscreen that isarranged to overlie the liquid crystal monitor.

The detection setting unit 106 sets generated detection settings for themonitoring cameras. It has functions of connecting to the monitoringcameras via the LAN 2000, similarly to the image obtainment unit 103 andthe detection setting obtainment unit 101, and of setting detectionsettings for the monitoring cameras in accordance with a predeterminedsetting protocol.

The detection setting conversion unit 107 executes coordinate conversionbetween: detection settings obtained from the monitoring cameras anddetection settings set for the monitoring cameras; and detectionsettings on a two-dimensional plane. For example, it executes coordinateconversion between coordinates on a planar map and coordinates on videoscaptured by the monitoring cameras in relation to a detection line setfor passage detection.

The map information storage unit 108 stores planar map information. Theplanar map will be described later in greater detail with reference toFIG. 5.

A description is now given of the operations of the above-describedmonitoring system. FIG. 2A is a cubic diagram showing the threemonitoring cameras 3001 to 3003 installed in a monitored space. FIG. 2Bis a plan view showing this monitored space as viewed from above, andFIG. 2C is a lateral view showing this monitored space as viewedlaterally.

The monitoring camera 3001 is installed so as to face the direction of adoor to some degree with a passageway situated substantially therebelow,and the monitoring camera 3002 is installed so as to capture thedirection of the door from a rear side of the passageway at a shallowoblique angle. The monitoring camera 3003 is installed to capture peoplewho pass by the door from a lateral direction. Regions included incapturing ranges of the monitoring cameras 3001 to 3003 overlap at leastpartially.

FIG. 3A shows an example of a video captured by the monitoring camera3001. A hatched trapezoidal portion shown at the center of FIG. 3A is afloor surface of the passageway, and portions on the left and right ofthe trapezoidal portion are wall surfaces of the passageway. A portionabove the trapezoidal portion is a part of the door at the front.Similarly, FIG. 3B shows an example of a video captured by themonitoring camera 3002, and FIG. 3C shows an example of a video capturedby the monitoring camera 3003.

FIG. 5 shows representation of the monitored space shown in FIG. 2A asviewed from above in the form of a planar map. This planar map can beobtained from a design drawing of a building or by measurement using atape measure, and mainly shows information of objects that are notintended to be monitored, such as the floor surface, walls, and door.

The operations of the detection setting conversion unit 107 shown inFIG. 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and the like.FIG. 4 shows a captured image obtained from the monitoring camera 3001.In order to convert a passage detection line L1 drawn on the floorsurface of FIG. 4 into a passage detection line L1′ on the planar map ofFIG. 5, it is necessary to obtain a corresponding relationship betweenarbitrary points on the floor surface of FIG. 4 and points on the floorsurface on the planar map of FIG. 5. As this corresponding relationshipis determined by a perspective projection conversion, points on thefloor surface can be interconverted by obtaining points on the planarmap of FIG. 5 to which four points A, B, C, D of FIG. 4 correspond. Inthe case where a wide-angle lens is used as the camera lens, distortionof a peripheral vision is prominent, and therefore distortion correctionfor reducing the influence of such distortion is executed. In this case,the perspective projection conversion is executed after correcting thelens distortion.

The monitoring cameras 3001, 3002 and 3003 capture videos in the statewhere the four points A, B, C, D have been marked on the actual floorsurface as indexes. The image obtainment unit 103 obtains the video ofthe monitoring camera 3001, and the detection setting display unit 104displays the video. The marked points A, B, C, D on the camera videodisplayed on a setting screen are selected through a user operation onthe screen; as a result, coordinates of these four points on the screenare obtained.

Next, positions of these four points on the corresponding planar map ofFIG. 5 are obtained. As points B and C are marked at the corners of thepassageway, it is evident that they respectively correspond to points B′and C′ on the planar map. The actual distance between the marked pointsA and B is measured using a tape measure. Once the actually-measureddistance has been input through the user operation input unit 105, theposition of point A′ is obtained by converting the actually-measureddistance into a distance on the planar map in accordance with a scale ofthe planar map. Similarly, the position of point D′ on the planar map isobtained by actually measuring the distance between points C and D onthe floor surface and inputting the actually-measured distance throughthe user operation input unit 105.

In the above-described method, correspondence between four points A, B,C, D on the image captured by the monitoring camera 3001 and four pointsA′, B′, C′, D′ on the planar map is obtained, thereby making it possibleto obtain projection conversion between points on the floor surfacecaptured by the monitoring camera 3001 and points on the planar map, aswell as inverse conversion therebetween, as conversion parameters.

At the time of installation of the monitoring camera 3001, theaforementioned measurement is carried out, and the obtained conversionparameters are stored in the monitoring camera 3001 as settingconversion information. Similarly, with regard to the monitoring camera3002, a capture screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, and four markedpoints A″, B″, C″, D″ are selected on the screen. In this case, thefollowing correspondence is similarly obtained: points B″ and C″respectively correspond to points B′ and C′, and points A″ and D″respectively correspond to points A′ and D′. Once a correspondingrelationship between the four points has been obtained, projectionconversion between points on the floor surface captured by themonitoring camera 3002 and points on the planar map, as well as inverseconversion therebetween, can be obtained as conversion parameters. Theobtained conversion parameters are stored in the monitoring camera 3002as setting conversion information.

Similarly, with regard to the monitoring camera 3003, projectionconversion and inverse conversion are obtained as conversion parametersfrom a corresponding relationship between the four points on the floorsurface, and the conversion parameters are stored in the monitoringcamera 3003 as setting conversion information. With the settingconversion information obtained in the above manner, a correspondingrelationship between the monitoring cameras can be identified. Note thatit is sufficient to execute the aforementioned processing only once atthe time of installation of the monitoring cameras, and it is notnecessary to carry out the measurement again unless the angles of viewand orientations of the monitoring cameras change.

The following describes the operations executed by the detection settingterminal 1000 to set detection settings for the monitoring cameras.First, a description is given of a method for setting detection settingsfor the first camera, that is to say, the monitoring camera 3001 withreference to a flowchart of FIG. 8. First, the user selects settings forthe monitoring camera 3001 by operating the detection setting terminal1000.

In step S801, the detection setting management unit 102 connects to themonitoring camera 3001 in accordance with a setting protocol. In stepS802, the image obtainment unit 103 connects to the monitoring camera3001 in accordance with a video obtainment protocol and obtains imagesfrom the monitoring camera 3001.

In step S803, the user selects a detection type to be set by operatingthe user operation input unit 105 (for example, a touchscreen).

In step S804, the detection setting management unit 102 determines thedetection type selected in step S803. If the detection type selected instep S803 is passage detection, processing proceeds to step S805. On theother hand, if the detection type selected in step S803 is intrusiondetection, processing proceeds to step S806.

In step S805, through an operation on the user operation input unit 105,the user inputs a detection line by selecting a start point and an endpoint of a line on the floor surface targeted for detection whileviewing a captured video displayed on a screen. Consequently, inaccordance with the user operation, the detection line is rendered andsuperimposed on the video of the monitoring camera on the screen. In theexample of the screen shown in FIG. 4, the passage detection line L1 isdisplayed.

In step S806, through an operation on the user operation input unit 105,the user inputs a closed region for intrusion detection on the floorsurface while viewing the captured video displayed on the screen.Consequently, in accordance with the user operation, the closed regionis rendered and superimposed on the video of the monitoring camera onthe screen.

In step S807, the detection setting management unit 102 determineswhether or not detection settings for the target monitoring camera (inthe present example, the monitoring camera 3001) have been completed. Ifdetection settings have not been completed (NO of step S807), processingreturns to step S803, and input of detection settings is repeated. Onthe other hand, if detection settings have been completed (YES of stepS807), processing proceeds to step S808.

In step S808, the detection setting unit 106 transmits the detectionsettings to the monitoring camera 3001. In the present embodiment,passage detection is input as a detection type, start coordinates andend coordinates of the passage detection line L1 are input as a sitetargeted for detection, and these detection settings are transmitted tothe monitoring camera 3001 via the detection setting unit 106. Note thatthese coordinates are plotted on a capture screen of the monitoringcamera 3001.

In step S809, once the settings for the monitoring camera 3001 have beencompleted, connection with the monitoring camera 3001 is terminated, anddetection setting processing is ended.

The following describes a method for setting detection settings for thesecond and subsequent cameras with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 9.

The user selects settings for the second camera, e.g. the monitoringcamera 3002 (second monitoring camera) by operating the detectionsetting terminal 1000. It will be assumed that the monitoring camera3001 is the first monitoring camera.

In step S901, the detection setting management unit 102 connects to themonitoring camera 3002 in accordance with a setting protocol. In stepS902, the image obtainment unit 103 connects to the monitoring camera3002 in accordance with a video obtainment protocol and obtains imagesfrom the monitoring camera 3002. FIG. 10A shows an example of a screendisplayed by the detection setting terminal 1000. In this example, themonitoring camera 3002 is selected as a camera targeted for detectionsettings, and a video of the monitoring camera 3002 is displayed on thescreen.

In step S903, the detection setting management unit 102 connects to themonitoring camera 3001 in accordance with a setting protocol. In stepS904, the detection setting management unit 102 checks settinginformation of the monitoring camera 3001 and determines whether or notthere is any detection setting that has not been obtained yet. If thereis any detection setting that has not been obtained yet in themonitoring camera 3001 (YES of step S904), processing proceeds to stepS905.

In step S905, the detection setting obtainment unit 101 obtains settinginformation from the monitoring camera 3001. In step S906, the detectionsetting conversion unit 107 converts the setting information of themonitoring camera 3001 obtained in step S905 into detection line settingvalues normalized on a planar map.

In step S907, the detection setting conversion unit 107 converts thenormalized setting values on the planar map into setting information forthe monitoring camera 3002 (second monitoring camera), and superimposesthe resultant setting information on an image displayed on a detectionsetting screen for the monitoring camera 3002.

In this way, based on information showing correspondence betweencoordinates on a video of the monitoring camera 3001 and coordinates ona video of the monitoring camera 3002 (setting conversion information ofconversion from the monitoring camera 3001 to the planar map, andsetting conversion information of conversion from the planar map to themonitoring camera 3002), detection settings for the monitoring camera3001 are converted into detection settings for the monitoring camera3002, and then displayed together with a video. In the example of FIG.6, a passage detection line L2 is displayed. FIG. 10B shows an exampleof a screen displayed by the detection setting terminal 1000. If the“OBTAIN CAMERA SETTINGS” button is pressed while the monitoring camera3001 is selected as a camera from which detection settings are to beobtained, passage detection settings for the monitoring camera 3001 aresuperimposed on the displayed video of the monitoring camera 3002.

If the user wishes to modify detection settings that have beenautomatically generated (YES of step S908), the user modifies thedetection settings through a user operation. On the other hand, if nofurther modification is applied to the settings (NO of step S908),processing proceeds to step S910.

In step S909, the detection line is modified by selecting an edge pointof a tentative detection line and dragging the selected edge point onthe screen using the user operation input unit 105. If the user appliesno modification (NO of step S908), a detection line that has beenautomatically generated by the detection setting conversion unit 107 isused as-is.

In step S910, the detection setting unit 106 transmits detection lineinformation set for the monitoring camera 3002 to the monitoring camera3002, and accordingly configures detection settings for the monitoringcamera 3002. The detection setting management unit 102 then terminatesconnection with the monitoring camera 3002.

Thereafter, in step S911, the detection setting management unit 102terminates connection with the monitoring camera 3001, and endsprocessing. In the above manner, detection settings can be configuredfor a plurality of monitoring cameras.

As described above, detection setting information that has been set forone camera is displayed as default setting information when configuringdetection settings for another monitoring camera; therefore, thedetection settings can easily be configured with reference to thedefault setting information. As a result, detection settings for aplurality of cameras can be configured with ease.

The following describes the operations executed by a detection displayterminal when passage detection is performed by the monitoring camera3001 and information to that effect is notified while the user isviewing a video of the monitoring camera 3002.

FIG. 12 shows a block configuration of the detection notificationdisplay terminal 5000 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. The detection notification display terminal 5000 includes adetection setting obtainment unit 101, a detection setting managementunit 102, an image obtainment unit 103, a user operation input unit 105,and a detection setting conversion unit 107 similarly to the detectionsetting terminal 1000, and in addition to these constituent elements,further includes a detection notification obtainment unit 109, adetection notification management unit 110, and a detection notificationdisplay unit 111.

The detection notification obtainment unit 109 receives, from themonitoring cameras, notifications of passage detection and intrusiondetection performed by the monitoring cameras. The detectionnotification management unit 110 manages detection notificationsreceived from the plurality of cameras. The detection notificationdisplay unit 111 displays the results of detection notificationstogether with camera videos.

A procedure of processing executed by the detection notification displayterminal 5000 will now be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 13.

In step S1101, the detection notification obtainment unit 109 connectsto the monitoring cameras 3001 to 3003 in the network in accordance witha detection notification setting protocol, and sets these monitoringcameras to transmit detection notifications when they perform passagedetection or intrusion detection.

In step S1102, the user operation input unit 105 accepts a useroperation for selecting a monitoring camera whose video is to bedisplayed on a screen of the detection notification display terminal5000. It is assumed here that the user inputs a selection of themonitoring camera 3002 through a user operation, so that a video thereofis displayed on the screen of the detection notification displayterminal 5000.

In step S1103, the image obtainment unit 103 connects to the monitoringcamera selected in step S1102 and starts obtaining the video thereof. Itis assumed here that the image obtainment unit 103 connects to themonitoring camera 3002 and starts obtaining a video thereof. Then, thedetection notification display unit 111 displays the video obtained fromthe monitoring camera 3002 on the screen of the detection notificationdisplay terminal 5000. FIG. 14 shows an example of a displayed screen.More specifically, the video obtained from the monitoring camera 3002 isdisplayed on the screen.

In step S1104, the detection notification obtainment unit 109 determineswhether or not a detection notification has been received. If thedetection notification has been received (YES of step S1104), processingproceeds to step S1107. On the other hand, if the detection notificationhas not been received (NO of step S1104), processing proceeds to stepS1105.

In step S1105, the detection notification obtainment unit 109 determineswhether or not to change the monitoring camera whose video is to bedisplayed. Note that whether or not to change the monitoring camerawhose video is to be displayed can be determined based on whether or notthe user has selected a monitoring camera from a drop-down menu andpressed the “SWITCH CAMERA” button as shown in FIG. 14. If it isdetermined to change the monitoring camera whose video is to bedisplayed (YES of step S1105), processing proceeds to step S1106. On theother hand, if it is determined not to change the monitoring camerawhose video is to be displayed (NO of step S1105), processing returns tostep S1104. If the detection notification has not been received (NO ofstep S1104) and the monitoring camera whose video is to be displayed isnot changed (NO of step S1105), the received video is continuouslydisplayed.

In step S1106, the image obtainment unit 103 terminates connection withthe monitoring camera from which the video is currently received.Thereafter, processing returns to step S1103, in which the imageobtainment unit 103 connects to the monitoring camera that has beenselected as a result of the change, and newly starts obtaining a videothereof.

In step S1107, the detection notification management unit 110 determineswhether or not the received detection notification has been issued fromthe monitoring camera whose video is currently displayed (in the presentexample, the monitoring camera 3002). If it is determined that thereceived detection notification has been issued from the monitoringcamera whose video is currently displayed (YES of step S1107),processing proceeds to step S1108. On the other hand, if it isdetermined that the received detection notification has not been issuedfrom the monitoring camera whose video is currently displayed (NO ofstep S1107), processing proceeds to step S1111.

In step S1108, the detection setting obtainment unit 101 obtainsdetection settings for the monitoring camera whose video is currentlydisplayed (in the present example, the monitoring camera 3002) from thatmonitoring camera. In step S1109, the detection notification displayunit 111 displays detection information that has been obtained in stepS1108 and contributed to the detection together with the video. In stepS1110, the detection notification display unit 111 displays thedetection performed by the monitoring camera whose video is currentlydisplayed.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a screen displayed in this instance. Morespecifically, a video of the monitoring camera 3002 is displayed on thescreen, together with detection setting 1 as the detection information.Furthermore, a sentence “PASSAGE DETECTED!” is superimposed on thedisplayed video.

In step S1111, the detection setting obtainment unit 101 receives andhence obtains detection settings of the monitoring camera from which thedetection notification has been received (for example, the monitoringcamera 3001) from that monitoring camera.

In step S1112, the detection setting obtainment unit 101 obtainsdetection conversion information from the monitoring cameras 3001 and3002. The detection setting conversion unit 107 also converts detectionsettings that have contributed to the detection into settings for themonitoring camera whose video is currently displayed based on theperspective projection conversion information.

In step S1113, the detection notification display unit 111 displays thedetection settings converted for the monitoring camera whose video iscurrently displayed (in the present example, the monitoring camera 3002)together with the video thereof.

In step S1114, the detection notification display unit 111 displays, onthe screen, information showing that the detection was performed byanother monitoring camera (in the present example, the monitoring camera3001).

FIG. 11 shows an example of a screen of the detection notificationdisplay terminal 5000 displayed in this instance. More specifically, thevideo of the monitoring camera 3002 is displayed on the screen, and asentence “PASSAGE DETECTED BY ANOTHER CAMERA!” is superimposed on thedisplayed video. The screen also shows that another camera is themonitoring camera 3001.

As an event detected by a certain camera is superimposed on a displayedvideo of another camera in the above manner, the result of detection caneasily be checked even while the video of another camera is beingviewed.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, regions captured by a plurality of camerasoverlap one another, and detection settings are configured with respectto the overlapping regions. However, the present invention is notlimited in this way. For example, in the case where cameras areinstalled in similar positions on different but identically-designedfloors of an office building such that each camera detects passage ofpeople who come in and out of a door, the identical design allowsmapping on the same planar map, and therefore the present invention canbe applied.

Furthermore, while detection settings are configured for the secondcamera continuously after the configuration of detection settings forthe first camera in the first embodiment, a time interval may be setbetween the initial configuration of detection settings for the firstcamera and the configuration of detection settings for the next camera.In this case, if information of the first camera for which detectionsettings have already been configured is not left in a setting terminal,a camera that satisfies the following conditions is searched for: acapturing range overlaps, and a detection line is set in an overlappingregion. If a camera that satisfies these conditions is found, it issufficient to obtain detection line information of the camera and thendisplay the detection line information on a setting screen of a camerafor which a detection line is to be set.

While the setting conversion information provided to the detectionsetting conversion unit 107 is stored in the cameras in the firstembodiment, this information is not limited to being stored in thecameras. For example, the setting conversion information may be storedin the monitoring video recording server 4000 connected to the network,and the setting terminal may obtain the setting conversion informationfrom the monitoring video recording server 4000. Also, the settingconversion information of all installed cameras may be prestored in thesetting terminal.

While the setting conversion information is generated by obtaining acorresponding relationship between four points on images captured by thecameras and four points on a planar map in the first embodiment, thesetting conversion information is not limited to being generated in thisway. For example, the setting conversion information may be obtainedfrom angle-of-view information, which is determined by lenscharacteristics of the cameras and settings of zoom positions of thecameras, and from information of the positions, heights and angles atwhich the cameras are installed.

While it is assumed that all cameras have a detection function in thefirst embodiment, the present invention is not limited to thisconfiguration. For example, one wide-angle camera may capture anextensive panoramic view, and videos of four divided sections of theextensive panoramic view may be respectively captured by four telescopiccameras with a passage detection function. In this case, the followingconfiguration may be adopted: the wide-angle camera does not storedetection settings shown in FIG. 7 but stores setting conversioninformation therein; detection settings for the telescopic cameras areconverted into settings for the wide-angle cameras using the settingconversion information received from the wide-angle camera; and thedetection settings for the telescopic cameras that have contributed tothe detection are superimposed on a displayed video of the wide-anglecamera.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2013-054137 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising:an association unit configured to associate coordinates on a videocaptured by a first camera with coordinates on a video captured by asecond camera based on specific positions specified in the videocaptured by the first camera and in the video captured by the secondcamera; an input unit configured to input position information for eventdetection by the first camera; and a determination unit configured todetermine position information for event detection by the second camerabased on the position information for the event detection by the firstcamera and on the association made by the association unit between thecoordinates on the video captured by the first camera and thecoordinates on the video captured by the second camera.
 2. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a display control unit configured to display an image basedon the position information for the event detection by the second cameraon the video captured by the second camera in accordance with thedetermination by the determination unit; and an acceptance unitconfigured to accept a user input related to a change in the positioninformation determined by the determination unit.
 3. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising atransmission unit configured to transmit the position information forthe event detection by the second camera to the second camera inaccordance with the determination by the determination unit.
 4. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thespecific positions are designated by a user.
 5. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising adetection unit configured to detect a specific object from the capturedvideos, wherein the specific positions correspond to a position of theobject detected by the detection unit.
 6. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific positions exist inoverlapping regions in areas captured by the first camera and the secondcamera.
 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the association unit executes first association processing forassociating the coordinates on the video captured by the first camerawith coordinates on a predetermined map, and second associationprocessing for associating the coordinates on the video captured by thesecond camera with the coordinates on the predetermined map, and thedetermination unit converts coordinates corresponding to the positioninformation for the event detection by the first camera into coordinateson the predetermined map using a result of the first associationprocessing, and determines coordinates corresponding to the positioninformation for the event detection by the second camera using thecoordinates on the predetermined map and a result of the secondassociation processing.
 8. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the position information for the eventdetections includes coordinate information for specifying at least oneof a line segment for passage detection and a closed region forintrusion detection.
 9. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein when the first camera has detected an event based onthe position information for the event detection by the first camera, animage corresponding to the event is displayed on the video captured bythe second camera at a position corresponding to a position in the videocaptured by the first camera at which the event has been detected. 10.An information processing method implemented by an informationprocessing apparatus, comprising steps of: associating coordinates on avideo captured by a first camera with coordinates on a video captured bya second camera based on specific positions specified in the videocaptured by the first camera and in the video captured by the secondcamera; inputting position information for event detection by the firstcamera; and determining position information for event detection by thesecond camera based on the position information for the event detectionby the first camera and on the association between the coordinates onthe video captured by the first camera and the coordinates on the videocaptured by the second camera.
 11. The information processing methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising steps of: displaying an imagebased on the position information for the event detection by the secondcamera on the video captured by the second camera in accordance with thedetermination; and accepting a user input related to a change in thedetermined position information.
 12. The information processing methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising a step of transmitting theposition information for the event detection by the second camera to thesecond camera in accordance with the determination.
 13. The informationprocessing method according to claim 10, further comprising a step ofdetecting a specific object from the captured videos, wherein thespecific positions correspond to a position of the detected object. 14.The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein in theassociation, first association processing is executed for associatingthe coordinates on the video captured by the first camera withcoordinates on a predetermined map, and second association processing isexecuted for associating the coordinates on the video captured by thesecond camera with the coordinates on the predetermined map, and in thedetermination, coordinates corresponding to the position information forthe event detection by the first camera are converted into coordinateson the predetermined map using a result of the first associationprocessing, and coordinates corresponding to the position informationfor the event detection by the second camera are determined using thecoordinates on the predetermined map and a result of the secondassociation processing.
 15. The information processing method accordingto claim 10, wherein when the first camera has detected an event basedon the position information for the event detection by the first camera,an image corresponding to the event is displayed on the video capturedby the second camera at a position corresponding to a position in thevideo captured by the first camera at which the event has been detected.16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computerprogram that is executable by a computer, the computer programcomprising steps of: associating coordinates on a video captured by afirst camera with coordinates on a video captured by a second camerabased on specific positions specified in the video captured by the firstcamera and in the video captured by the second camera; inputtingposition information for event detection by the first camera; anddetermining position information for event detection by the secondcamera based on the position information for the event detection by thefirst camera and on the association between the coordinates on the videocaptured by the first camera and the coordinates on the video capturedby the second camera.
 17. A camera system including a plurality ofcameras, comprising: an association unit configured to associatecoordinates on a video captured by a first camera with coordinates on avideo captured by a second camera based on specific positions specifiedin the video captured by the first camera and in the video captured bythe second camera; an input unit configured to input positioninformation for event detection by the first camera; and a determinationunit configured to determine position information for event detection bythe second camera based on the position information for the eventdetection by the first camera and on the association made by theassociation unit between the coordinates on the video captured by thefirst camera and the coordinates on the video captured by the secondcamera.
 18. A control method for a camera system including a pluralityof cameras, comprising steps of: associating coordinates on a videocaptured by a first camera with coordinates on a video captured by asecond camera based on specific positions specified in the videocaptured by the first camera and in the video captured by the secondcamera; inputting position information for event detection by the firstcamera; and determining position information for event detection by thesecond camera based on the position information for the event detectionby the first camera and on the association between the coordinates onthe video captured by the first camera and the coordinates on the videocaptured by the second camera.